Giving

Giving

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Malachi 3:10 (ESV)

WAYS TO GIVE

WHY GIVE?

When we give back to God, by giving to our local church, we acknowledge God as the giver and provider of absolutely everything we have.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.  (James 1:17)

Through our giving, we recognize that God owns everything that we have, and we are simply giving back to Him a small part of what is already His, that He has provided for us.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it…  (Psalm 24:1)

Since giving is an act of worship, our giving should be done with a cheerful and thankful heart, in the presence of the Lord.

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  (2 Corinthians 9:7)

When we give, we also sacrifice.  God’s Word shows us many examples of His people offering Him a gift.  But this gift was only worthy to be accepted by Yahweh if it was the absolute best that they had, and cost them something.

The best of the first fruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of the LORD your God.  (Exodus 23:19)

God calls His people to give back to Him the first portion of what He has given to you, to help ensure that He remains Lord and Master of your life, and money does not take His place on the throne of your heart.

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.  (Matthew 6:24)

When you give to Lakeview Baptist Church, your tithes and offerings support God’s transforming work here at Lakeview, as well as all around the world.  As a church, Lakeview tithes as well.  We give to missions (locally, state-wide, country-wide, and internationally) by allotting ten-percent of our annual budget to be sent directly to the missions which we support.